They don't want me to try anymore.

Unfortunately, when they reached the village entrance, they were met with...

It was the villagers' undisguised rejection.

One child even threw stones at them, saying, "This is the mountain people's land, you bastards who're with the gophers, get out!"

Chapter 55 The Guide from the Mountains

This was the second time Richard had heard the word "groundhog"; the first time was in the bandits' hideout.

But the people in front of them weren't bandits, they were just villagers...

Could it be that describing people as mice is a consistent tradition throughout Abarania?

He tried to explain politely, "I mean no harm, I just want to ask for directions."

However, most villagers remained unchanged, while a few timid ones, such as the mother of the boy who threw the stones, simply grabbed the child and hid inside the house.

After a long while, an old man came over, bowed and said, "Gentlemen, please forgive their rudeness. They are just a group of ignorant mountain people. If you have any requests, just give them."

"..."

Richard raised an eyebrow, disliking the atmosphere in Riverwood where people viewed chicken killers with suspicion, but also feeling a bit puzzled and helpless.

He could only say, "Old man, you don't need to call me sir. We are just students here to eliminate the fungal beasts... If possible, could you help us find a guide? We will pay you."

He took out a silver coin, and this time, the faces of the nearby villagers finally showed a different kind of expression.

Great, the first law of the universe is in effect—money is always useful.

However, the villagers were somewhat resistant, looking left and right, and no one took the first step.

Just as Richard was wondering whether he should put another universal law into practice—that he needed more money—a loud voice rang out in the village.

"There's no reason not to make money when there is, especially since this gentleman is here to exterminate the bacteriums, which is a good deed."

A tall, burly man carrying a hunting rifle and a short axe came out of the village and said to Richard, "I'll take this job!"

"Grateful!"

"You're welcome."

Oh no, you're welcome. You saved me a silver coin in a very timely manner, though I'll never tell you that.

Richard's lips curled slightly, then he sensed that something was amiss.

This man's accent sounds a bit like Connaught's... Wait, could he be the other group of people who proposed releasing Melissa at the bandit camp that day?

Although I couldn't see her face because of the mask, her figure...

Richard narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering something.

The man, oblivious to Richard's change in demeanor, accepted the silver coins, walked confidently to the front, and said loudly:

“My name is David, and I’m a hunter in the village. Wherever you wish to go, sir, I can take you.”

"Lead us to track down a fungal beast first..."

With someone familiar with the mountains and forests leading the way, Richard and his party's efficiency immediately improved.

They followed the trail of the fungal beast, circled around, and actually returned to the open space where they had first set the fire—good heavens, the fungal beast had launched a surprise attack!

So, you also think the most dangerous place is the safest place?

Or do you want to be all together with your family?

Finally, Richard found the fungus, which was nearly the size of a tiger, beneath the pile of corpses.

Its lower body lay flat, while its upper body stood upright, glued together by layers of silk threads, as if it were kneeling in worship.

Richard frowned slightly, finding it somewhat strange.

This thing can be fused to this extent? Like synthesizing a giant watermelon, huh?!

It doesn't seem as weak as I thought, and its behavior is quite strange... Oh well, I'm just here for an internship, so I'll leave this in-depth research to that scholar.

He recorded this scene at the end of his diary, and then ended the day's battle with a fire.

When David arrived, he stared wide-eyed in shock at the sight of the charred corpses scattered on the ground and the aroma of mushrooms in the air.

"Master, these... you destroyed them all?"

"Ah, yes."

In an instant, David looked at Richard with the same respect a struggling writer would show to a top-tier author with 10,000 subscribers.

"I originally thought you were just casually killing a few fungal beasts, like the gentlemen before you..."

"Killing a few is not enough."

Richard waved his hand and laughed, "I still think it's not enough. By the way, if you want to know how we do it, I can teach you the secret."

"...You are so generous."

David said sincerely, "These fungal beasts kill several children every year, and we hate them to the core... We are truly grateful."

"You're welcome. However, if it's alright, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Richard blinked. "Why are the villagers so hostile towards us? And what does 'gopher' mean?"

David hesitated for a moment, recalling Richard's kindness and gentleness along the way, and finally sighed, "This matter is not easy to explain in a few words. If you really want to know, why don't you come with me?"

"I am glad to."

Richard and his party changed direction, crossed the ridge, and arrived further east.

Then what appeared before me...

There were seven or eight huge craters, stretching from our feet all the way to the horizon... like wounds on the earth that had been hit by bullets and drained of blood.

"This is……"

“What were once fertile fields and houses are now just coal mine pits, and they have been completely dug out.”

David explained, "Groundhogs are people hired by coal mining companies to work in the mines. They've been coming here in droves for the last decade or so."

“They rent our land for extremely low prices, sometimes a few pigs, sometimes a few guns, and then they dig holes and mine on it.”

"When the lease was about to expire and the mine dried up, they took all the profits and returned the land to us, which had not been backfilled with coal slag... but the land was no longer arable."

"Later, when we didn't want to rent the land anymore, they would hire thugs and use dirty tricks. In the end, we always had to rent it, sometimes even selling it for a few copper coins. Before we knew it, seven or eight out of ten plots of land in the nearby mountains belonged to the coal mining company."

"So, you should understand why we hate gophers..."

Richard nodded, then asked in a deep voice, "Is no one doing anything about what they're doing?"

If his memory serves him right, although the empire's various systems appear reactionary and corrupt to the time traveler, there are still legitimate regulations regarding land issues—especially the land in the mountains, which is disliked by nobles and landlords and is recognized as belonging to self-cultivating farmers.

David smiled knowingly: "You said you were introduced by Bishop Benjamin, so you must have seen who the owner of the largest coal mining company in Nion is, right?"

Oh, Daniel... the Baron's brother, right?

Okay, that's all right now.

"It's good that you understand. Actually, even if the company didn't belong to that person, the result would be the same... We Abaranians have always been regarded as second-class citizens, country bumpkins, and potential bandits. No one will stand up for us. We're used to it..."

To be honest, you really did become a robber...

Richard couldn't help but complain.

However, he also understood why Abarania would persistently contribute the local specialty, bandits, to the empire.

Inland mountainous areas are generally poor and remote, with a fierce and unruly populace. They are places where the central government's control is weak, a situation that has remained largely unchanged throughout history and across the world. Even today, the mountain people here are still being oppressed on matters of fundamental interest; it would be strange if they didn't protest.

There's nothing inherently wrong with mining coal and developing industry, but forcibly seizing land from poor families and leaving them nothing is like Europe without Germanic culture—it's rather unethical.

No wonder Mr. Arno didn't like Linda's tone of voice.

But then again, David's accent doesn't seem to belong to the Abalani natives at all, yet he speaks so clearly on related issues...

Who is this person?

Richard couldn't help but feel a little more curious about the man in front of him.

It was exactly noon.

"It will take at least half a day to get back to Nyon from here. If you don't mind, could you treat us to a meal? I'll pay."

Having just been honest with each other, David immediately agreed.

Soon, everyone was gathered around his dining table.

It was at this moment that Richard asked in a low voice:

"David, have you... heard of Connaught?"

Chapter Fifty-Six: Fellow Villagers Meet

After a moment of silence, David smiled and said, "You recognized my accent? I can tell from your accent that you're from the southwest coast as well."

Richard continued, "So, how did you get here?"

At this point, it's clear that David isn't too happy about it.

But faced with Richard's gaze as the "Prime Minister in Black," he suddenly felt that the man before him had become irresistible, and instinctively spoke: